Sexual Harassment In the Workplace
With sexual harassment finally being recognised as a systemic workplace issue, this program is now a necessity for employment lawyers, in-house counsel & HR personnel. Master how to manage a workplace before, during and after a complaint is made. Understand how to conduct an investigation & the complexities around vicarious liability, compensation and criminal conduct. Gain in-depth guides to key changes in the law, the psychology of sexual harassment, & meeting health & safety requirements. WEB218N10
Description
Attend and earn 4 CPD units including:
3.5 units in Substantive Law
0.5 unit in Professional Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Chair: Nick Stevens, Director, Stevens & Associates Lawyers
9.00am to 9.20am Keynote Address
Presented by Emily Howie, Director of Dispute Resolution and Legal, Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
WHAT IS THE LAW?
9.20am to 10.05am A Roadmap for Respect: The Key Legislative Changes and the Respect@Work Report
- The definition of sexual harassment & key statistics
- Key recommendations for employers to be aware of
- Legislative changes including the Fair Work Act and Sex Discrimination Act
- The impact for employers and the workplace
Presented by Erin Lynch, Partner, Vincent Young Lawyers
IDENTIFYING & UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM: POLICIES, PRACTICE AND CULTURE
10.05am to 10.50am Ensuring a Workplace is a Safe Place: the Legal Requirements
- Proactively setting up the right policies and procedures
- The employer’s duty of care and legal requirements
- Health & safety legislation and the importance of workplaces being psychologically safe
Presented by Kristen Lopes, Partner, Colin Biggers and Paisley
10.50am to 11.05am Morning Tea
Professional Skills
11.05am to 11.50am The Psychology of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
- The importance of taking a proactive, preventative approach and focusing on psychological safety
- Understanding the role of culture and suggestions for creating a safe, harassment free workplace
- Impact of management and leadership behaviours
- The individual’s experience and the psychological impacts; understanding the potential negative outcomes for workplaces and individual wellbeing
Presented by Kylie Young, Principal Psychologist, Kylie Young Consulting
RESPONDING TO A COMPLAINT: INVESTIGATIONS, RESPONSES & REMEDIATION
11.50am to 12.35pm Managing the Workplace Pre and Post a Complaint of Sexual Harassment
- Best practice in handling public scrutiny
- Providing avenues and complaint pathways
- Protective factors for staff and encouraging bystander intervention
Presented by Shelley Williams, Partner, Kingston Reid
12.35pm to 1.15pm Managing Workplace Investigations into Complaints
- Establishing misconduct: conducting a sound workplace investigation
- Dealing with workplace misconduct vs criminal conduct
- Resolving the issues post-investigation: disciplinary action, coaching, mediation
- Vicarious liability: Are employers responsible for staff misconduct?
Presented by Alexandra Shields, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright
Presenters
Nick Stevens
Having established Stevens & Associates Lawyers as a boutique employment law firm in August 2004, Nick Stevens brings over twenty years’ experience in advising employers and employees on all areas of industrial relations, WHS and employment law. Nick has a broad range of experience across a wide range of industries including health, transport, manufacturing, retail, wholesale and charitable organisations.
Alexandra Shields
Alexandra's expertise are across all areas of employment, workplace relationships and industrial relations law for public and private sector clients, with very strong experience in workplace litigation, including discrimination, sexual harassment and equal opportunity claims, unfair and unlawful dismissals and restraint litigation. Alexandra has a sound understanding of her clients' businesses and provides a practical and solutions-focused approach, with a public and private practice. Alexandra regularly represents and advocates for clients in conciliations and hearings in various jurisdictions and has expertise in strategic employment, discrimination and industrial relations advice; advising on matters involving employee management and termination of employment strategies.
Shelley Williams
Shelley is an experienced employment and industrial lawyer and provides advice on all aspects of employment, industrial relations and discrimination law including advice and litigation. Shelley is passionate about helping clients find solutions to their most complex workplace challenges and issues. Shelley quickly gets to the core of the issue or dispute and provides advice that is tailored to the needs of her client’s business including its own commercial realities and strategies. When providing advice and representing her clients, she is pragmatic, strategic and thorough and focuses on achieving positive outcomes that are effective and time sensitive.
Kylie Young
Kylie is a registered psychologist with 20 years of experience and has expertise across organisational psychology, coaching psychology, neuropsychology and clinical psychology. Her main driver is to support businesses to create environments where people can work to their full potential, while maintaining good mental health and wellbeing. Kylie’s core focus areas are assessments, leadership development, coaching, wellbeing and workplace mental health initiatives. She combines her academic and scientific background with extensive practical corporate experience to offer tailored solutions to her clients which are underpinned by best practice, evidence-based psychological principles and current research.
Kristen Lopes
Kristen is a partner in Colin Biggers & Paisley's Employment and Safety Team with more than 25 years' experience. She has expertise in employment, industrial relations and anti-discrimination law. Kristen regularly act on behalf of a diverse range of employers across a broad range of sectors including: insurance, education, faith-based, service, retail, financial, manufacturing, clubs, healthcare, construction and not for profit. In addition to advising clients on a broad range of workplace issues, she acts on behalf of clients in a broad range of workplace litigation in the common law courts and the Fair Work Commission.
Erin Lynch
Erin has over 10 years’ experience in employment and workplace relations. Erin advises employers on all matters relating to the workplace, including enterprise agreements, bullying, investigations into inappropriate conduct, industrial disputes and performance management.
Erin has experience across a range of industries and is able to assist employers in litigious and non-litigious matters. If a matter proceeds to litigation, Erin represents employers in State and Federal tribunals and Courts, including in post-employment restraint matters, general protections, discrimination and unfair dismissal claims. Erin works with clients in a proactive manner, including by delivering training and assisting with cultural and workplace change.
Emily Howie
Emily is committed to ensuring that the law remedies entrenched inequalities and promotes peoples’ freedom, dignity and human rights. The Legal Dispute Resolution Branch resolves individual complaints of discrimination, vilification and sexual harassment, and investigates more serious systemic instances. It also promotes human rights and non-discrimination through advocacy in the courts and broader law reforms initiatives.